Complete Guide to Setting Up a Web Development Environment on Windows Using Laragon

Windows has long been the default choice for everyday users. However, most web developers prefer Linux as their native development environment. That said, with the right tools, Windows can become a powerful web development platform—one that feels just like working on a true production-ready setup.

If you’re looking for speed, flexibility, and simplicity, Laragon is arguably the best choice—and a serious upgrade over the traditional XAMPP stack that once dominated the scene.

Why Developers Prefer Laragon Over XAMPP

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For years, XAMPP was the go-to solution. But as web projects grew more complex, its limitations became harder to ignore. Some of the most common pain points include:

• Complicated configuration – Manually editing config files can be tedious and error-prone.
• Outdated interface – The UI feels clunky and behind modern standards.
• Version management issues – The biggest drawback: running multiple versions of PHP simultaneously is difficult and inconvenient.

Laragon changed the game by offering a modern interface and seamless switching between language versions (PHP, MySQL, Node.js) with just a single click.

Laragon Features and Built-In Tools

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Once you install Laragon, you immediately get a complete development toolkit—pre-configured and ready to go:

How to Install Laragon on Windows

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Installation is straightforward—just like any other Windows application:

1. Download the installer from the official Laragon website.
2. Follow the standard installation steps.
3. Launch the program, and all services will be ready to run.

That’s it—no complex setup required.

Managing PHP Versions in Laragon

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One of Laragon’s biggest competitive advantages is multi-version PHP support. Here’s how to add a new version (such as PHP 8.1 or 8.0).

Method 1: Quick Add (Recommended)

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Inside the application:

• Go to Tools
• Select Quick Add
• Choose the PHP version you need

Laragon will automatically download and configure it for you.

Method 2: Manual Installation

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If your desired version isn’t listed:

1. Download the ZIP archive of the PHP version from the official PHP for Windows site.
2. Extract it into:

C:\laragon\bin\php

3. From the Laragon interface, right-click and select your new PHP version.

Managing Multiple Node.js Versions

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Laragon makes handling Node.js versions just as easy:

• Via Quick Add – For recent versions (e.g., Node.js 22).
• Manually – Download the archive from the official Node.js site and extract it into:

C:\laragon\bin\nodejs

Note: This same approach works for databases like MySQL or even other languages such as Python.

Installing phpMyAdmin in Laragon

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To manage databases through your browser, you can install phpMyAdmin in two ways:

Quick Method

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• Go to Tools > Quick Add > phpMyAdmin

Manual Method

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1. Download phpMyAdmin from the official website.
2. Extract the files.
3. Rename the folder to phpmyadmin.
4. Move it to:

C:\laragon\etc\apps

5. Access it via:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Default login credentials:

• Username: root
• Password: (leave blank)

One-Click HTTPS (SSL) Activation

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One of Laragon’s most powerful features is its ability to enable SSL locally with a single click. Instead of manually generating certificates and tweaking configuration files, you can secure your local site instantly.

Here’s how:

1. Right-click anywhere inside the Laragon interface.
2. Select Apache (or Nginx, if you’re using it).
3. Go to SSL and click Enabled.
4. Grant administrator permission when prompted.
5. The server will restart automatically.

You can now access your project via https://.

This is especially important when testing features like push notifications, authentication flows, or payment integrations—many of which require HTTPS even in development.

Virtual Hosts: Say Goodbye to Messy Localhost URLs

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With XAMPP, your project URL typically looks like:

localhost/project-name

This often leads to path and routing headaches.

Laragon automatically creates a Virtual Host for every folder you create inside:

C:\laragon\www

For example, if you create a folder named mysite, Laragon will automatically make it accessible at:

http://mysite.test

Why This Is Better

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1. Realistic environment – It feels like working with a real domain.
2. Cleaner routing – No subfolder path conflicts.
3. Custom extensions – You can change .test to .dev or any extension you prefer via Preferences.

Quick Comparison: Laragon vs XAMPP vs WampServer

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Here’s a side-by-side breakdown to help you choose:

A Pro Tip

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If you want a development environment that mirrors real production servers even more closely, consider using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Pair it with Docker and you’ll have a fully isolated Linux-based development setup—while still working comfortably inside Windows.